Water heater and the like



April 24,1945. I c, P. OHAGAN WATER HEATERS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 21, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .INYENTOR.

p 1945- c. P. OHAGAN WATER HEATERS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 21, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Z66P0fiqgafZ,

Patented Apr. 24, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WATER HEATER AND THE LIKE I Charles P. OHagan, Arlington Heights, 111.

Application February 21, 1941, Serial No. 379,965

2 Claims.

This invention has to do primarily with water heaters, such as are used in residences and the like, for heating water for storage tanks, and other purposes. Further, it is intended to relate particularly to solid fuel burning water heaters of the class described, such as garbage burners, coal burning water heaters and wood burning water heaters.

Although water heaters of this general class are well known, and have been for many years on the market, comparatively few improvements adding to the efficiency and economy of the water heater have been made. The many water heaters now on the market have many serious objections. Among the principal objections are that they have no hot blast feature; that the heating capacity of the water jacket section is comparatively .small; that some of the devices are extremely difficult to fuel and refuel, particularly in the more modern appearing water heaters which have the small elli se-shaped feed openings; and that they do not have suitable brick linings which can be replaced without disconnecting the stoves, particularly without dismounting the water pipes.

The devices heretofore on the market in this classification are very poorly designed and constructed. Some of them have no hearth; some have no bottom, and ashes fall on the floor; some of them do not have adjustable draft dampers nection, the two water outlets are so located that they contribute materially to the variety of installations which may be made, eliminating excess piping and unsightly installation jobs, and permitting a variety of control measures and efficient operating installations not readily available with the ordinary heaters on The market or checlrdraft dampers, or, particularly, a combination of check draft and other dampers which can be properly coordinated for most eflicient operation. Further, the present constructions on the market are so made that they are excessively heavy considering their efficiency and capacity.

It is an object of the present invention to disclose a water heater construction which overcomes the abovementioned objections.

It is an object to disclose a water heater adapted for home use and apartment building use, and the like, which has a brick lining around the fire chamber, portions of which brick lining can be replaced without removing other portions, and all of which brick lining can be replaced without dismantling the heater or the water pipes.

Applicant further provides as an object of his invention a hot blast feature having many advantages which add materially to the efiiciency of the heater and give improved combustion.

It is a further object to provide an arrangement in which there are two hot water outlets, instead of the usual one, which cooperate in such a way that the water drawn will be hotter than if there were merely a single outlet. In this contoday. In this connection, an immersion control is easily installed in applicants device without special arrangement, whereas in the devices on the market today a special pipe arrangement is ordinarily necessary to provide said immersion control. V l

It is a further object to provide an arrangement which has a more eflicient water pot section in that water in said water pot will be more efficiently and speedily heated than is the case with the ordinary water heater. The particular arrangement of water heater herein shown contributes to the improved efficiency of the heater, and further, allows the provision of an adequate feed door of sufficient size to accommodate gar bage and larger chunks of coal. In connection with the said door, it is an object to provide a pouch feed door and opening of improved con-v struction, in whichthe tendency to spill fuel is largely eliminated, and from which smoke and gases from the fire will not be'so apt to escape intovthe room instead of going out the flue when the said door is open. This arrangement in connection with a water heater is extremely valuable and is believed to be novel. v

It is a further object to provide an improved ash pit which i preferably a one-piece arrangement, and which has an improved hearth construction so that ashes are less apt to fall to the floor upon opening of the ash pit door, as well as upon removing the ashes from the stove.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved design of heater, mechanically, which permits easy feeding" of the heater and operation thereof, sustaining the fire, cleaning the grates, removing the ashes, and a more scientific and accurate regulation of the draft means.

It is a further object to providea construction which can be quickly and easily repaired, without dis'membering the whole device or any substantial portion thereof, when the grates burnout or when the firebrick need to be replaced.

It is still a further object to provide a construction which is economical to manufacture and may be made-largely by the standard methods in use today for the manufacture of stoves and water heaters.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the nature of the improvements is better understood, the invention consisting substantially in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 i a front elevational view of a water heater embodying the features of my present invention. The entrance of the water pipes into the water jacket is illustrated by broken lines.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the device of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional front elevational view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a section of the tion chamber, the water jacket being shown in a fragmentary manner.

Referring more in detail to the construction shown in thedrawings, the combination of parts comprising the outerwall portions of the water heater are collectively designated wall 20. These comprise, among others (see Figures 2 and 3), the wall of the ash pit 2 I, the outer wall portion of the brick fram 22, the outer wall portion of the Water jacket '23, and the'outer'wall portion of the dome 24.

Referring more specifically to the 'arangement shown-in Figures 2 and 3, the dome 24 generally consists' of a casting. In my particular arrange ment; the dome seats on the top of the water jacket 23 at all except the front of the "dome, where itis cut away and built'out, forming the 'upperportion of the pouch door seat'25; The water jacket top is'prefera'bly "fiat and cooperates with the ,fi'at'bottom flange portion26 of the dome 'tof'orm-aseal. against escaping gases. The dome is held tightly'againstthe top surface of the water jacket by its own weight and by means of the stay bolts 21. Each of these stay bolts 21 passes 'through a'lugzt on'the dge of the dome24, and

.the recessed portion'of the dome into an opening in the water jacket whereby a communicating passage-is formed through the pipes from the water jacket. These pipes maybe threaded into the water jacket, or welded therein, or otherwise attached as desired. 'It is not considered'essential that the pipes have threading attachment or other attachment to the dome.

The dome has "the usual smoke pipe collar 33 which accommodates the smoke pipe carrying off the products -of combustion from the interior of the combustion chamber. As disclosed, the dome preferably has the downwardly depending flange portion which assists in centering the dome and makes .it easy to-assemble, and also adds protection against the escape of gases from the interior of the combustion chamber.

Hinged lugs 35 are provided (preferably in the dome casting), to which is rotatably attached the pouch feed door 36, the lug 35 preferably having a rod or the like 31 assing therethrough, and passing through a corresponding feed door lug 38 (see particularly Figure 1) The pouch feed door 36 may be raised and lowered by means of the drop handle 39.

The pouch feed door 36 is designed to rest against and form a more or less gas-tight seal with the seat 25 around the entire periphery of the seat. As above stated, the top portion of this seat and a part of the side portions of the seat are formed from the dome 24, The bottom portions and a portion of the sides of this seat 25 are formed from the casting or water jacket 23.

Herein lies an important feature of this invention. In order to be certain that the feed door opening is large enough to accommodate garbage and larger pieces of coal, wood, etc., and that it seats .at the correct angle for most desirable operation, I have formed the water jacket, in its front portion, of reduced size immediately adjacent the door opening so that it comes only up to the bottom portion of the door opening, leaving a clear entrance way into the combustion chamber. This is clearly illustrated in Figure 2 at the reduced portion 40 of the water jacket 23. This allows complete circulation of the water around the entire water jacket and heater, taking advantage of heat which would be available under the feed door opening, and at the same time providing for use of the feed door opening to a greater facility than that of other heaters of this type on the market. This reduced portion 40 adds materially to the water heating surface exposure of the water jacket.

I have a further improvement in the Water jacket which adds materially to the water heating surface exposed to the action of the heat, and therefore contributes to the amount of water heated per unit of heat. I refer to the cross conduit 4| clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3. This cross conduit 4| forms a passage for the water directly above the .fire, and absorbs both radiated and conducted heat from the fire pot and from the gases which would normally go up the flue without contributing materially to the heat of thewater jacket. This cross conduit 4| is a tubular member leading from one side of the Water jacket to the other, and opening directly into the water jacket on both sides. In my construction, which Ibelieve thezpreferred construction, the gasesimay pass to the rear, to the front, underneath, and above said cross conduit in leaving the smoke pipe. The cross conduit is spaced from the dome 24 and is preferably just back of an imaginary vertical plane which would pass through the center line of the dome crosswise of the heater." This positioning may be varied somewhat, but'it is a desirable position in the construction being maintained that will give-circulation of the gases as abovedescribed about the bottom, front, top, and back portions of said cross conduit. The cross conduit likewise is subject to some action by heat reflected from the dome, as will be apparent from examination of Figure 2.. ,Preferably,- the cross conduit is of a generally angular shape, having a shape such as shown at 41, in Figure 2. It may, however, beotherwise shaped, although it might not have as much efficiency. l v j It is noted that, as-shown in Figure 3, the pipes 32 are preferably joined to the water jacket substantially at the position where the cross conduit 4| discharges into said water jacket. The

provision of a double discharge arrangement,

preferably one on each side of the water jacket, results in the hotter portions of the water bein withdrawn more rapidly than would be the case if only a single outlet were provided (regardless of the fact that it is primarily intended that these two discharges will later hook up to a single pipe, probably of the same size, although not necessarily so). This occurs by reason of the fact that the hot water rising to the top is conducted more directly off, and less swirling in movement about the water jacket is necessary than would be the case with a single discharge pipe. Of course, the movement of the water in the jacket of the ordinary heater causes the hotter portions of the water to lose some of their heat to the colder portions, and outside the jacket, and extra movement results in extra heat loss generally from the jacket. Further, the water entering the storage tank will not generally be as hot as is the case with my construction. Likewise, a single discharge pipe may result in cold water from the inlet pipe, such as inlet pipe42, forming a channel through the hotter water more or less direct to the outlet pipe, due to the force or flow from the inlet pipe when a person opens a faucet to a considerable extent. This, in the ordinary type of heater, may result in the hot water being forced to one side or the other, or may require the use of bafiies to divert the flow, which adds to the expense of construction.

In my arrangement, this direct flow i substantially eliminated, and hot water in the jacket will reach the discharge pipes in a hotter condition than would be the case with a single discharge pipe. Apparently this has never been recognized before in.water heaters of this type.

Referring back to the dome construction, it ,is preferable to place what may be called a check draft arrangement at the rear of the domeadjacent the smoke pipe opening, defined by the collar 33, where the combustion gases leave the heater. This check draft is preferably of the form illustrated, comprising the opening 43 (see Figures 2 and 3) and the hinged check draft door 44 which may be controlled by ratchet means or counterweights to hold it positioned as desired. The ratchet means shown is a satisfactory means for controlling the degree of opening maintained by the check draft door 44, and therefore controlling the amount of check draft admitted to the heater. It is understood that a check draft slide may be substituted for the check draft door. The provision of this check draft eliminates the necessity of placing one in the smoke pipe, assures the presence of such an arrangement in the heater at a saving of expense over what would be required should it be necessary to add one to the smoke pipe, and'assures the proper balance of drafts in the heater. Many users of stoves do not go to the expense of adding a check draft and would not get as satisfactory service from the heater. Further, the presence of the two drafts on the heater, that is, the check draft and the direct draft from the ash pit at the bottom, allows coordination of the two, and suggests such coordination.

I realize that the use of firebrick in stoves and furnaces is not new. However, the use of the arrangement of firebrick which I herein disclose I believe to be new in a water heater construction particularly, and possibly such arrangement is new in stoves and other heating units. It is particularly valuable in water heaters of this type even to a much greater extent than it would be in ordinary heaters and cook stoves. However, while I am primarily interested in protecting it for the field of water heaters of this kind, and I believe itsadvantages entitle it to patent protection for water heaters regardless of whether it has been used for other stoves, nevertheless, I do not wish to have to limit myself, unless I have to because of the prior art in this connection. It has some advantages over ordinary heaters and stoves that would make it worth while protecting from a patent standpoint for those devices, although, as I have stated above, I believe the advantages for use in a water heater are paramount to those of any other type of stove.

The water jacket 23 seats on the flanged upper edge of the brick frame 22, andpreferably forms a seal between said brick frame and said water jacket to prevent the escape of gases from with-' in the stove. The desirable arrangement is to have the outer edge of the brick frame aligned with the outer edge of the water jacket, the inner edge of the flange of the brick frame retaining said water jacket properly positioned. With this arrangement, more of the-water jacket will extend inwardly past the inner circumference of the ring of bricks and will form a wiping sur-' face which will remove much heat otherwise lost from the gases going up the side of the firebrick.

The firebrick are preferably grooved at their rear portions (see Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5), having several grooves to each brick, two being a desirable number for the ordinary firebrick. These grooves 45 run vertically in the preferred construction up the back wall of the brick. At the bottom rear edge of the firebrick is preferably located a cut-away portion which I have shown as a quarter round channel 46. This channel 46, while shown as quarter round, may be of other obvious shapes, such as various angular arrangements, and preferably extends circumferentially around the outer bottom circumference of the firebrick. The grooves 45 connect with this channel and conduct air substantially from said channe146 behind said brick within the confines made by said grooves 45 and the brick frame 22. The brick are referred to as number 41, and the top plan view shown in Figure 4 illustrates a preferred construction. The brick is preferably shaped to fit the brick frame, and has the notches 48 which represent a continuance of the grooves 45 in the top portion. These notches are hereinafter sometimes described as and claimed in connection with the groove 45, when it is not necessary to refer to them individually as notches. Preferably, the notches 48 open on the inner circumference of the firebrick with adownwardly depending slant as clearly shown in Figure 5, This construction allows the gases which have been conducted up back of the firebrick to expand and spread upon discharge into the combustion chamber. Further, the downward slant makes it less likely that ashes and foreign matter will accumulate to an extent which will materially interfere with the discharge of said gases from said notches.

It is understood that when I refer herein to notches and channels and grooves, they are believed to be the equivalent of apertures and conduits which might be formed through the brick instead of on thesurface of the brick. No separate showing is believed necessary to convey that meaning and thought, although the construction shown here I believe to be advantageous because, among other things, it is less expensive and difficult to make, and otherwise has some preference V6! an aperture arrangement.

The brick frame 22 is preferably constructed with the retaining flange 49 which prevents the brick from slidingoutwardly at the bottom, and

serves to hold the brick in position because of the thickness of the brick and the fact that the upper edges of the brick will be close to, if not in contact with, the bottom of the water jacket. The brick will therefore normally be prevented from. falling outwardly into the combustion chamber. In this connection, I have made provision for the removal of brick or insertion of new brick, as the occasion demands, by providing a portion of the brick frame without the flange 49. Preferably, this portion is a little less than the width of a brick to be used, so that the brick can be inserted onto the bottom of the brick frame 22 and slid into place circumferentially by sliding the other brick along. space is illustrated at 50 of Figure 2.

The brick frame has one or more openings,

This insert preferably a series of openings, 5|, hereinafter referred to as holes 5|, which conduct air from the ash pit or outside of the-stove, as the case may be (although they are here shown as conducting from the ash pit), which register with the channel 46. Gases entering the ash pit pass into the channel 46 through the holes 5!, are carried up behind the heated brick 4] through the groove 45, hit the bottomof the water jacket .23 where they deliver some heat (having been heated in the ash pit and in moving upwardly behind the hot brick, and then are deflected .outwardly through thenotches 48 into the combustion chamber where they provide a secondary air supply (heated) causing additional combustion, and are what may be termed a hot blast feature. In actual tests, heated air issuing from the notches 48 has been observed to unite with the gases of combustion, forming almost a white heat combustion right alongside the water jacket.

Experiments have indicated that this secondary air supply adds materially to the amount of combustion in the chamber due to mixture of gas and air and therefore they add materially to the heat. The positioning is such that the combustion takes place at the most advantageous point and the air being discharged from the notch 48 will cause the flame to lick back against the water jacket in normal operations. Further, owing to the cold-surface of the water jacket, gas which would combust while heat is present would be retarded from combustionin devices without this hot blast feature. The fact that the gases meet the hot air, and are some- .what insulated by'the hot air from instant cooling by the cooler water jacket, promotes the combustion of these gases and to a large extent eliminates the formation of sootin the chimney and elsewhere, and the loss of the combustibles generally carried up the chimney of the hot water heater.

If desired, a damper arrangement such as the register damper 52 may be provided for regulating the amount of air admittedthrough the openings or holes 5|. 7

The brick frame 22, in its turn, is seatedon a supporting edge of theash pit. For this purpose, I have provided the-flanged seat 53 which maintains the brick frame properly positioned with respect to the ash pit. The brick frame 22 has a series of hangers or the like 54 which support a round shaking grate, or other type of grate, if desired. I have here shown a round shaking grate with adraw center section, which type of grate I believe to be preferable for this type of stove. The grate is numbered 55 and has the regulation shaking bar extending to a position adjacent the direct draft door 55.

In this connection, the provisions of the lugs or hangers 54 as an integral part of the brick frame 22 eliminates the necessity of having a separate supporting ring for the grate, and therefore eliminates some weight and expense while at the same time providing as good or better construction. The ash pit is preferably provided with a floor or bottom,51 which I have here shown as being tapered substantially in front. This is not essential, but seems to me to be a preferred construction inasmuch as it operates to prevent ashes getting out on the floor in front, and further, to eliminate draft at the wrong place. The bottom 51 tapers to what may be called a point 58. The ash pit door 59 (see Figures 1 and 2) rests at its bottom edge in a position inwardly from the point 58 when the door is closed. This forms what may be termed a pouch or hearth, which has a tendency to eliminate ashesbeing accidentally pulled out onto the floor of the room when pulling the shovel or other cleaning instrument from the ash pit. As shown clearly in Figure 1,-the .door 59 is hinged for swinging in a horizontal plane by any desirable hinging means. I have shown the door as being provided with the lugs 60 which register with the wall lug 6| and a flange lug 62, and being held in place by means of the hinge pins 1-6.3 passing through said various lugs in the well-known manner. Probably a preferable construction from the standpoint of manufacture, due to the fact that it can be more easily cast, would be to have this ,door provided with trunnions instead of the lugs 69, and have sockets to accommodate the trunnions in the bottom 57 and in the casting 64, which is the casting containing the lug 62. This casting 64 extends out further in front (for the purpose of accommodating this door) than it does at the sides and rear. It is deemed unnecessary to show this trunnion construction because any suitable hinging means would be satisfactory. The direct draft .door 56 forms a portion of the ash pit door 59 in the preferable construction, and is hinged thereto by means of any suitable hinge arrangement 65. This direct draft door is preferably provided with a ratchet arrangement which holds it in adjustment to the position desired for the admission of air, although counter-balances .or other suitable means maybe used. I have shown a ratchet means for this purpose.

The bottom 5'! is provided with a vertical strip .forming an apron 66 to the hearth or floor surface on which the stove rests. This apron 66 prevents ashes being accidentally shoved under the heater when attempting to clean the floor, or the like, or when removing ashes from the stove.

In actual operation the stove is manipulated in the ordinary way of all water heaters. There is provided, in connection with the feed opening; the extended pouch arrangement shown at 6! which is preferably formed as a part of the casting for the Water jacket. This eliminates fire and coal falling to the floor when the door 56 is open 'for feeding or otherwise. This extends outwardly, preferably at an angle, which has a tendency to throw items hitting it into the stove. The distance it extends out causes a slant on the feed opening covered by the feed door 36. This opening is located under the top of the dom a just sufiicient distance that, with the slant caused by the extension or pouch mean 61, the whole feed door arrangement is without range of the normal smoke curl. If the opening were higher on the dome, there would be a strong tendency (except when there was a strong draft up the flue 33) for smoke to enter the room each time the door was opened.

Although I have herein shown and described my invention in simple and practical form, it is recognized that certain parts or elements thereof are representative of other parts, elements, or mechanisms which may be used in substantially the same manner to accomplish substantially the same results; therefore, the form of the invention herein shown and described presents a preferred embodiment thereof, and delineates its adaption to practical use, and is to be considered from the illustrative standpoint and not as imposing restriction or limitation on the invention. While I have herein shown and described certain features of my invention, still I do not wish to limit myself thereto, except as I may do so in the claims.

I claim: I

1. A water heater of the class described comprising, in combination, a combustion chamber composed of a dome having a flue outlet, a water jacket having a cold water inlet connection and a plurality of hot water outlet connections, a brick frame on which said jacket seats, grate hangers in connection with said brick frame,

grate means supported by said grate hangers;

said brick frame having firebrick or the like forming aninner lining circumferentially about said brick frame; the interior portions ofsaid firebrick, said grate, said water jacket, and said dome construction forming saidcombustion chamber; an ash pit on which rests the brick frame; the Water jacket extending circumferentially around said combustion chamber above said firebriek and under said dome, said water jacket being reduced in size in the front portion forming with the front portion of the dome an enlarged feed door opening; a pouch'feed door; a

cross conduitformed in said waterjacket ex tending across said combustion chamber and con necting to said water jacket at both ends of said cross conduit; hot blast air induction mean behind said brick lining said brick frame, said hot blast air induction means comprising circumferential channel means substantially at the base of said firebrick; damper regulated openings from said ash pit through the brick frame into said channel means, grooves from said channel means upwardly, said grooves having notches opening into said combustion chamber at a position substantially adjacent the top of said firebrick, the arrangement being such that air induced into said circumferential channel is conducted upwardly around said firebrick by said grooves and notches and discharged into said combustion chamber. forming a hot blast feature, direct draft control means into said ash pit, a check draft means in said dome adjacent said flue outlet, and a register damper controlling the admission of air into said conduit across said combustion chamber below the dome and opening into the water jacket at a plurality of points about said combustion chamber, an enlarged feed door opening into said combustion chamber, flue means leading from said combustion chamber; an ash pi't; a hot blast arrangement consisting of a circumferential channel having holes letting in air, and air ducts from said channel into said combustion chamber whereby air is conducted from said ash pit up past the portion of the combustion chamber surrounded by the firebrick and discharged into said combustion chamber at a position substantially adjacent the bottom of the Water jacket, substantially as described.

' CHARLES P. OHAGAN. 

